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commonly followed economic indicators

commonly-followed economic indicators

Must I hyphenate between "commonly" and "followed"? Why? Thank you.

Laurel
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jewels
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    Similar to this question although the answers aren't authoritative. Some usage books and style guides will tell you to hyphenate but the consensus on English Language and Usage seems to be that you only need to hyphenate if it avoids ambiguity, and I don't see any ambiguity here. – Stuart F Feb 24 '23 at 11:41
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    Many style guides advise hyphenating a compound adjective if it comes before the noun, and not if if comes after, thus 'Some commonly-followed economic indicators are X, Y, and Z', but 'X, Y, and Z are some economic indicators that are commonly followed'. A red-hot iron bar, but a bar that is red hot. – Michael Harvey Feb 24 '23 at 11:45

1 Answers1

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You do not need to hyphenate commonly followed.

I cite three well-known style manuals:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition: Do not hyphenate a compound including an adverb ending in “-ly” (widely used test)

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition: A two-word phrasal adjective that begins with an adverb ending in -ly is not hyphenated (a sharply worded reprimand)

Associated Press Stylebook 2020-2022: No hyphen is needed to link a two-word phrase that includes the adverb very and all adverbs ending in -ly: a very good time, an easily remembered rule.

I add the caveat that these are all American manuals.

Jeffrey Carney
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